Vehicle-spring



- C. F'REIHOFER.

VEHICLE SPRING.

APPLICATION men MAY l0. 1920.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES FREIHOFER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVAN VEHICLE-SPRING.

Application filed May 10,

T 0 all whom it may 00mm Be it known that I, CHARLES F REIHOFER,

Another object of the invention is to provvide a spring of novel'form and construction, together with a novel arrangement of connections for mounting it between the axle and the frame of a vehicle with" a View a to causing thea latter to ride easily over trough roads. 7

These objects and other advantageous ends I "attain as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawin ',m which, Y

he figure is a perspective view illustratingthe preferred forinoflmy invention.

In the,above drawingsQ represents a portion of one of the side frames of a vehicle the end portion of one of whose axles is indicated at 9. Rigidly fixed to the frame member 2,-in the present case at one end, is a projecting bracket 4. to which are pivotally connected a pair of parallel links 5. A second bracket 1 having'a downwardly extending fork portion, preferably having an inverted U-shape, is rigidly fixed as by bolts to the frame member 2 about the same distance in front of thea'xle 9 as the latter is in front of the bracket i and this second bracket 1 has pivotallyconnected between its arms or side members a. pairof links 3 which may be formed as a single U-shaped structure. 7

The latter extends upwardly from its pivot between the side members of the bracket 1 and has pivotedto it adjacent its top one end of the long upper memberof a quarter elliptic leaf spring 7 The thick end of this spring is riveted or bolted to' an axle engaging member 8 in the form of an angular casting or forging. whose two a members extend at an obtuse angle to each other. The upper end of the upwardly ex tending portion of this member 8 is journaled on the axle 9 and the thick portion of the leaf spring 7 engages or lies against Specification of Letters Patent. 7 v

1920. Serial No. 380,138.

its fiat bottom face, abutting upon an integral downwardly extended flange l0projecting from the end of the bottom portion of said members A second quarter elliptic spring 6 has its thick" end resting upon and rigidly connected to the angular axle engaging member 8, from which it extends rearwardly toward and beyond the bracket 4; its longest leaf member being extended upwardly and pivoted to -the upwardly extending free ends 'ofthe links 5. While as above noted the'thick partvof the spring 7 lies under and parallel with the bottom portionof the axle engaging member 8, the thick portion same bolts or rivets 11 may be utilized to connect it to said member and to the spring Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

of the spring 6 rests upon the upper face 7 a of this same bottom portion, so that the 7. It is noted that the parts are so proportioned that the links 5 extend upwardly I and rearwardly from'the point 'of their piv-f otal connection with the bracket 4, while the links 3 likewise extend upwardly from thepivot which connects them to the bracket 1,'to their pivotal connection with the end of the spring 7.

With such constructiomthe striking of" an obstruction by the wheels or their sudden drop into a hole or rut'while the vei hicle is moving in the direction of the arrow a, acts to cause'the axle with the spring members 6 and 7 to approach the frame or body of the vehicle and at the same time imparts to them a movement or tendency to move, in the direction of the arrow 6 The links 3 thereupon tend to swing on their pivot in a clockwise direction while the links5 tend to swing on the pivot connecting them tothe spring, also in a clockwise direction. To this action and to the arrangement of the springs 6 and 7, a shock or jar is more effectually dissipated or its effect diminished than would be thecase if the springs 6 and'7 were combined as a single semi elliptic spring connected to the frame member 2 in the customary manner, The deadening of the shock or jar is further insured by mounting the thick ends of the springs Grand 7 one: above theother as illustrated, their connection to the member 8 being simplified by reason of o the necessity for but a single set of bolts 11.

I claim 1. Avehicle' spring consisting of an axleengaging member and two quarter elliptic springs having their thicker portions connected one above the other to said member and extending in opposite directions therefrom. t

2. The combination of an angular member having one arm formed to engage anaxle; with two quarter elliptic springs connected respectively on the upper and lower sides of a second arm of said member and extending in opposite directions therefrom.

3. The combination of a member having two arms at an obtuse angle to each other, one of said arms being formed to rotatably engage an axle; two quarter elliptic lea-f springs mounted respectively adjacent the upper and lower faces of a second arm of said member; with common means connecting said springs to said other member.

4. The combination with the frame and axle of a vehicle of two brackets connected to said frame; a pair of links pivotally con nected to one of said brackets and extending upwardly from its pivot; a second pair of links pivotally connected to the second bracket and also extending upwardly from their pivot; a member rotatably engaging the axle; and resilient elements pivotally connected to the two pairs of links respectively and rigidly connected to said axle engaging member with their thick ends one above the other. 7 i

5. The combination with the frame and axle of a vehicle of two brackets connected thereto; a pair of links pivotally connected to and extending upwardly from said brackets respectively; an angular member having one arm journaled on the axle; and two leaf springs having their thickerends fixed one above the other to a second arm of said axle engaging member with their thinner ends respectively pivoted to the pairs of links.

6. The combination with the frame and axle of a .vehicle, of a member having two second arm of said. member; and means for,

movably connecting the thinner ends of said springs with the frame, consisting of a palr of brackets extending downwardly from said frame andtwo pairs of links respect tively connecting the brackets with the thinner ends of the springs.

8. The combination with'the frame and I axle of a vehicle of a member rotatably engaging the axle; oppositely extending resilient elements rigidly connected to. said axle-engaging member with theirthick ends one above the other; and ,means including links connectingthe thin ends ofjsaid resilient element'slto the frame.

CHARLES F Eino En; 

